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Despite significant warnings of severe winter weather, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio decided to keep schools open during a serious nor’easter on Thursday. NBC’s Al Roker blasted the mayor for the “poor policy” on Twitter and urged him to take accountability.

Following criticism from even the teachers union, De Blasio accused the National Weather Service of underestimating the amount of snowfall there would be overnight on Thursday.

Roker certainly wasn’t buying it. The TV weatherman is in Russia for the Winter Olympics, but has a daughter attending New York’s public schools.

Credit: Getty Images

He went on a Twitter tirade against the “goofball policy” in New York City:

Why are schools all around NYC closed? It's going to take some kid or kids getting hurt before this goofball policy gets changed

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio listens to a question while testifying before a joint legislative budget hearing on Monday, Jan. 27, 2014, in Albany, N.Y. De Blasio is urging state lawmakers to support his proposed tax hike on wealthy city residents to pay for universal prekindergarten. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

In response, de Blasio issued no apology but rather hit back at Roker.

“I respect Al Roker a lot,” de Blasio said, adding, “It’s a different thing to run a city than to give the weather on TV.”

The mayor also said many parents depend on schools to watch over their children while they are at work.